Picking Beans When Plants Are Wet

Space beans correctly at planting so once matured, they can air-dry.

Both green and dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) varieties are best harvested when the plants are dry, otherwise you can more easily spread disease between wet plants. It is sometimes difficult to find a dry plant In wet climates or rainy periods, so you may need to practice careful sanitation to safely pick the beans without endangering the plant.

Dry Is Best

Bacterial bean blight causes light green or yellow spots to form on bean leaves. The blight eventually kills the leaf and weakens the plant, which may stop producing or die all together. The disease is more readily spread when you disturb wet plants during harvest, so it's best to avoid picking beans from wet plants if they are still producing. If it's the end of the season for the plants, blight isn't an issue since you'll pull up and destroy the plants after harvest. Planting certified disease-free seed also minimizes blight problems, although it's still best to avoid touching wet plants.

Snap Bean Tips

Picking snap beans later in the day after the morning dew dries on the plants prevents the spread of disease. Snap beans can usually produce two or more harvests from a single plant if disease doesn't shorten its life. Wash your hands before picking and wash them again if you encounter a bean plant that appears diseased. Handle the foliage as little as possible by instead grasping each bean pod individually and snapping it off the plant.

Dry Bean Pointers

Dry beans usually produce only one harvest, so spreading blight at the time of harvest is rarely a concern since the annual plants are already at the end of their life. If the pods mature to the ripe, dry stage at different times on the same plant, try and harvest when the plants are dry later in the afternoon or wait until the majority of the pods dry. When possible, pull up the entire plant when most of the pods are dry and brittle. Hang the plants in a dry location for two or three days so any moisture on the pods can evaporate before removing the pods from the plant.

Wet Weather Issues

Water bean plants at soil level so the irrigation doesn't wet the foliage. Planting beans where they have a southern exposure and full sun also helps them dry more quickly. If you must harvest from wet plants due to ongoing rain, wash your hands often or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer between plants to minimize blight problems. Monitor the plants closely in the days following harvest; promptly pull and destroy any with disease symptoms. Don't plant beans in an infected bed for at least three years to prevent future problems.

About the Author

Jenny Harrington has been a freelance writer since 2006. Her published articles have appeared in various print and online publications. Previously, she owned her own business, selling handmade items online, wholesale and at crafts fairs. Harrington's specialties include small business information, crafting, decorating and gardening.